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The night was already dark, but suddenly, it felt like the shadows thickened, swallowing the remaining slivers of moonlight. A deep, guttural roar echoed through the forest, sending a chill down my spine. It wasn’t a wolf’s growl—it was something else, something unnatural.Then, the trees trembled, their towering forms swaying as if something massive was forcing its way through them. The sound of cracking branches and rustling leaves grew louder, closer. My breath hitched as I instinctively took a step back.My mom besides me tensed, and everyone's posture shifting into defensive stances. Gamma Brandon and Alpha Rhett’s eyes flickered in the dim light, assessing the unseen threat.Then, a scream shattered the silence.It wasn’t the playful shout of someone roughhousing. It was pure terror, raw and piercing.More screams followed—panicked cries rising from the direction of the pack village. My chest tightened. Something was attacking.Alpha Rhett’s face darkened, and he let out a sharp,
The creature’s red eyes bore into me, glowing like embers in the night. It was huge—its distorted, hulking body moving unnaturally fast as it tore through the trees. Each heavy step sent vibrations through the ground, the sheer force of its presence suffocating.Amanda grabbed my wrist and yanked me forward. “Run!”We bolted.Branches whipped against my face as we sprinted toward the cabin. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it over the chaos. My mother’s grip was iron-tight, as if she feared letting go would mean losing me forever.A deep, guttural snarl echoed behind us, and I risked a glance back.It was gaining on us.The beast’s powerful
If not for the destruction around us, I would have thought I imagined it. The battlefield was eerily silent, save for the wind whispering through the ruins.But as I lowered my gaze, something worse happened.The black blood on my arms began to spread.A sickening wrongness seeped into my skin, moving like poison through my veins. My limbs weakened, my vision blurred, and before I could scream—Everything went dark.I woke up to an endless expanse of snow.The wind howled, ice-cold and unrelenting, stinging my skin like tiny daggers. The sky stretched above me, an eternal gray abyss, void of sun, moon, or stars. Empty. Hollow. Infinite.I was alone.“Rhett!” I screamed. “Mom?”No answer.I spun in place, searching for any sign of life. My breath came in frantic puffs of white against the frozen air. Then, in the distance—a shadow emerged.It was moving toward me.Instinct screamed at me to run, so I did. My feet pounded against the snow, but no matter how fast I moved, the shadow loome
Alpha Rhett's POVI could smell her before I saw her.A scent unlike any I had ever encountered—fresh pine mixed with Alaskan forget-me-nots. It called to me, stirred something primal inside me.Then she stepped into view.If snow could take human form, it would be her. Pale blue eyes, long, silky white hair, lips a delicate blush pink. Tall and slender, yet curved in all the right places. She moved through the world as if disconnected from it, earphones muting the sounds of the wild around her. Her beauty was hidden beneath layers of makeup, her clothes ill-fitted for the Alaskan cold.She was a product of humanity—not the wild.And in her face, I saw sadness. Conformity. Weakness.My mate was weak and unfit to rule beside me.I clenched my jaw as I noticed the woman beside her—Amanda DiRossio.She had once been destined to lead here, born of a powerful lineage, yet she abandoned our pack for her mate, a Beta from Arizona. And now she was back.I studied the girl again—Aurelia. My ma
Aurelia’s POV"Her eyes opened—thank you, Goddess! Someone call the doctor!" my mom exclaimed.She leaned over me, her eyes filled with relief. "Hi, darling. How are you feeling?"My throat was unbearably dry. Speaking felt impossible. "Water," I croaked.She immediately handed me a glass, and I gulped it down, feeling the cool liquid soothe my throat. I took a moment to look around the room. My mom was beside me, and standing nearby were Gamma Brandon and Alpha Rhett."How do you feel?" Alpha Rhett asked, his voice steady, but his eyes were sharp with something unreadable.I took a deep breath, rolling my shoulders. "Weirdly... I feel like I need to move." My body buzzed with a restless energy I couldn’t explain. "What happened?""You were out for two days after the attack," Rhett answered. "That tar-like substance covered your entire body. You went completely still. It only started melting off of you last night, and by this morning, you were… clear."I frowned, trying to process his
Aurelia’s POVThe same dream again. I was lost in an endless expanse of snow, alone. At first, I felt fine, but then the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. The sky darkened, and an eerie chill swept through me.Goddess, what is this?Panic surged through my veins, and I ran. The voice in my head returned, whispering of power and magic. Then, just like before, energy exploded out of me, a blinding force pushing outward—before I woke up gasping for air.This time, I wasn’t in the snow. I was back in the hospital.My mother was packing up a bag, humming to herself as if everything was normal.“Oh, thank the Goddess! You’re awake,” she said, rushing over. “Darling, you’ve been discharged. We can finally go home. And by home, I mean home-home.”I blinked, my brain still catching up. “Mom, we talked about this. You agreed that staying here was a reasonable choice.”She sighed and sat beside me, brushing my hair back gently. “That was before we survived an attack by two monsters I hav
Aurelia’s POVI stepped into the cabin with my mom, my heart still pounding from training. The ice. The way Alpha Rhett had looked at me. Something was off.“What was that about?” I asked, crossing my arms.“What, darling?” my mother replied casually, as if I hadn’t just punched the Alpha with a fist of ice and been sent home with a pointed look.“Mom, are you seriously going to avoid this conversation?”Before she could answer, the door swung open.Alpha Rhett and Gamma Brandon stepped inside. Rhett’s presence filled the space instantly, his intense gaze landing right on me.“Amanda, I need you to speak,” he said, his voice firm. But he wasn’t looking at her—he was looking at me.My mom straightened, her expression unreadable. “I have nothing to say. We’re leaving tomorrow morning.”“Don’t make me command you,” Rhett warned.Her jaw tightened. “It’s not like you can.”I blinked. That was a new side of my mom—one I hadn’t seen since my dad died. She wasn’t just standing up to the Alpha
"I don’t want this future for you, darling. Please, leave the past in the past," my mom pleaded, her voice laced with desperation."Mom, this is about me. I deserve to know," I argued, my chest tightening.She sighed, looking away as if trying to find an escape. "A High Priestess is a mystical, spiritual leader with unique abilities tied to the Moon Goddess. She is responsible for guiding, protecting, and balancing the energy within the werewolf pack. Unlike an Alpha, whose strength comes from physical power and leadership, a High Priestess wields spiritual and elemental power, often through rituals, visions, and…" She hesitated, swallowing hard."Say it, Amanda," Alpha Rhett commanded, his voice firm but not unkind."I can’t," she admitted, her voice breaking. She covered her face with her hands, and Gamma Brandon immediately stepped forward, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders."I’ll take it from here," Alpha Rhett said, turning to me. "Aurelia, would you care to join me
POV: AureliaAfter the ball on Saturday and the Council meeting that followed, I was exhausted. My body ached, my thoughts were tangled, and the heaviness of responsibility settled into my bones like frost.And yet, it was only Monday.My official role as high priestess had barely begun, and here I was—sitting in war rooms, speaking alongside Alphas and strategists like I belonged. I wasn’t sure if I did. But I knew I had to.As the meeting began, we gathered once more in the war hall. This time, it was less ceremonial and more tactical. The long table was crowded with voices, not just in person, but through a large video screen that connected us to packs too far to travel. The faces of distant Alphas flickered with unstable connections, eyes squinting into their screens, expressions guarded.Some representatives were cooperative, offering records and patrol notes. Others were vague and evasive. A few, like the Blackwood and Night Howlers delegates, answered in clipped sentences and t
Ares’ POVWe were all gathered in the war hall—Alphas, Betas, and the trusted few they brought with them. I had specifically requested each pack’s leadership team be present. If they had heroes or people with unique insight, they were welcome too. We needed unity. And more than that—we needed the truth.Alpha Rhett stood at the front, shoulders squared, his voice calm but commanding as he addressed the room.“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” he began. “I want to be clear—this meeting doesn’t take away from this weekend’s festivities. But it is the perfect time to gather as many of you as possible and discuss our growing concerns.”He scanned the room, his expression unreadable.“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors,” he continued. “I’m here to confirm them—and to put any doubt to rest. The attacks are real. And they’re growing bolder. Our lands were recently targeted by something... monstrous.”The words hit like thunder.“They stood taller than any creature we’ve ever recorded
Ares' POVThis ball was a crazy idea. I wasn’t privy to most of the conversations swirling around the pack, but it was obvious this event was a strategy. A smart one. It brought in people, sparked bonds, and created the perfect cover to talk about the real issue—the attacks—without tipping off any potential enemies. The Council rarely met—once a year, tops—and only when something serious hit the fan. Alpha Rhett was smart. Maybe even brilliant. Honorable, too. I saw the way he looked at my sister. He hadn’t made a move, but the tension was thick. Maybe they were mates. Maybe not. Either way, the guy had restraint.The ball itself? It was a blast. I met a bunch of girls who made it very clear what they were after. Lucky for them, I’m available. Willing. But not a liar. When they asked, I kept it simple: I don’t date. I fuck. I’m waiting for my mate.My wolf growled about it sometimes—he didn’t love the casual flings. But my body? Well, that part of me didn’t exactly complain.The gue
I noticed Mom dancing with Brandon—rather closely. They were smiling, laughing, and whispering like no one else existed. I wondered when they’d finally admit their relationship. They were so cute together.Werewolves could live up to two hundred years. We grew up like any human would until we reached adulthood at eighteen. After that, our aging slowed thanks to our regenerative abilities. Mom was only forty-six, and Brandon was probably around one-twenty. A big age gap by human standards—but nothing unusual for us. They could even start a new family… though fertility was rare among older wolves.Rhett walked up on stage, and the room fell into silence.“Good evening, everyone,” he said, his voice smooth and commanding. “I hope you're enjoying the
The party was in full swing. Some people from my previous pack were here. Melissa hadn’t come this time—each pack had a limited number of guests, and priority went to those over 25 and unmated.You could see some pairs forming. The fated ones were obvious. You could also see all the hopefuls looking around, waiting for their moment.I was once that bright-eyed hopeful too. Now I was a little jaded.While chatting with Jasmine, I felt a weight settle on me. A gaze. I looked for the source—and there he was. Alpha Rhett. Watching me like he was starving. It was exhilarating… and terrifying. I was so drawn to that man, and I was scared of falling.I was being as guarded as my heart would allow, but Goddess, I wanted to run through the forest of his eyes.We stared at each other.I caved and smiled.He smirked back. Took a sip of champagne. Looked away, pretended to listen to someone, then looked back at me.I got pulled into a conversation, and the moment passed.As I headed to the bathroo
Aurelia's POVMy heart beat loud enough to drown out the music as Rhett extended his hand.He looked like a carved statue come to life—tuxedo tailored perfectly to his broad frame, jaw sharp enough to cut, that dark hair pulled back into a man bun I had no business liking as much as I did.His eyes were fixed on me like I was the only thing in the room. And Goddess help me, I wanted to walk into that gaze and never come out.But then I remembered who stood beside him.Jeremy.Shanika.My ex and his mate. Her dark eyes caught mine, unreadable. Jeremy looked… tired. And
Aurelia’s POVThe day before the ball felt like an entire lifetime compressed into twenty-four hours.There were wolves everywhere—unmated guests arriving by the hour, laughter and footsteps echoing through the corridors, flurries of movement between the apartments, dorms, tents, and the grand hall that would serve as the ballroom.I stood in the center of that hall, hands on my hips, staring up at the ceiling. It had once been a training arena—all cold concrete and sharp echoes. Now? It shimmered.Ares and his entourage had transformed the space. Silk drapes billowed from the ceiling like swirling snowstorms, catching the breeze from the AC vents and dancing in the air. Jasmine had strung fairy lights across the beams, woven with dried herbs and sprigs of pine that released a warm, woodsy scent when the bulbs heated them. It smelled like winter in the middle of summer—comforting, nostalgic, and a little wild.We’d gone with a winter elegance theme: dark woods and chrome accents, soft
Aurelia’s POVThe parchment was thick and slightly textured, dyed with the faintest hint of rose gold. The script shimmered slightly with silver ink, old-fashioned and elegant.You are honorably invited to the Mate-Matching Ball at the Foraker Mountain Pack. All unmated wolves are welcome. We hope this gathering helps you find a union—whether fated by the Moon Goddess or chosen by your heart.I stared at the invitation in my hands, heart fluttering. It was official. Real. Somehow, this felt like more than just a ball.Rhett’s POVInvitations had gone out to every corner of the world—Alaska, Canada, across the states, even overseas. We were expecting a massive turnout.Luckily, we were prepared—at least in terms of infrastructure.We had two three-story buildings just inside the front gates. They looked like government bunkers from the outside—plain, cold, intimidating. That was the point. It was all part of the façade of a military base meant to keep outsiders wary. But in truth, th
Chapter 51: Recounting Rhett’s POVThe attacks had become routine. That was the real horror of it all. People no longer screamed in terror or scrambled blindly. They just reacted—defended, regrouped, and returned to what they were doing as if an ambush by demonic beasts was just another line item on the daily agenda.It was too much.The numbers were dwindling. Every attack left behind fewer warriors. Fewer civilians. Fewer healers. It wasn’t just a battle anymore. This was a war. And we were losing.And yet, that night—our night—was different.The fire crackled beside us, casting a warm glow on her face. I had prepared this spot in secret: a soft blanket spread across a bed of moss, a thermos filled with hot chocolate, and a picnic basket holding a few sandwiches, chocolate-covered berries, and some marshmallow snacks I had seen her sneak from the pantry once. She thought no one noticed. I did.Aury’s eyes had widened when she saw it. Her surprise surprised me.We had trained togeth